SAN FRANCISCO - Prosecutors sent another clear message Thursday to Barry Bonds and everyone else suspected of misleading the federal steroids investigation: lie to us, and we'll come after you.

Former elite cyclist Tammy Thomas, 36, was the latest sports figure to be indicted for hindering the 3-year-old probe. She faces three counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice and is the first from her sport and the first woman to be charged with lying to the grand jury investigating the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative.

She was ordered to appear in court on Jan. 5. Each count carries a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.